Asked if he would still be in charge at the start of next season, he said: ”I would say that I would make that decision at the end of the season because, at this moment in time, it would be the wrong time to say that.

”That’s not a seismic change in position, I just have a situation where we need to see how things are at the end of the season. It’s me saying I will assess the situation at the end of the season.”

Moyes was appointed last July and supporters were pleased by his arrival, but their mood has changed after a season that has produced five wins in 33 league games and left them adrift at the bottom of the table.

“Twelve months ago everyone was saying the best appointment [for Sunderland] was David Moyes - no one was saying it wasn’t,” he said.

“It has changed a bit in the last couple of weeks, maybe before that, because of the position we’re in but there’s only one place I want to be at kick-off and that’s somewhere around my technical area.

“Supporters are entitled to their frustrations. I agree with them. Whoever has sat in this seat in recent years has endured those frustrations but, however hostile the atmosphere might be, it wouldn’t make me turn around and say: 'I’m getting away because of that.' Certainly not.